Category Manager

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a skilled Category Manager to lead strategic procurement efforts. This role involves creating and executing category management strategies, managing supplier relationships, and driving improvements in performance. The ideal candidate will possess strong commercial acumen and the ability to influence stakeholders effectively. Join a dynamic team committed to delivering essential services and making a positive impact on the community. With competitive salaries and excellent benefits, this opportunity offers a rewarding career in a diverse and inclusive environment.

Benefits

26 days annual leave

Contributory pension

Personal medical assessments

Health and well-being benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Fast-tracked career opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in end-to-end strategic category management is essential.
• Ability to influence and engage stakeholders to drive change.

Responsibilities

• Create and deliver end-to-end strategic category management.
• Manage a portfolio of suppliers to improve contract expectations.

Skills

Strategic Category Management

Commercial Acumen

Stakeholder Engagement

Supplier Negotiations

Risk Management

Job description

Job title: Category Manager
Ref: 40547
Division: Finance & Commercial
Location: Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB
Contract type: Permanent
Full/Part-time: Full-time
Salary: Offering between £45,000 - £58,000 per annum depending on experience
Job grade: B
Closing date: 06/05/2025

Thames Water has embarked on an exciting Turnaround Plan to deliver life’s essential service for years to come and to the millions of people who rely on us every day, the environment and our community. A key pillar of the turnaround plan is to live within our means and therefore we require skilled strategic procurement individuals with strong commercial acumen to make a real difference in these challenging times.

As a Category Manager, you should be a commercial expert for the category that you lead. You should be able to utilise this market expertise to develop and deliver strategies, ensuring that Thames is market-leading in their commercial arrangements.

What you’ll be doing as a Category Manager:

• Creating and delivering end-to-end strategic category management.
• Providing extensive category knowledge and market insight including identifying/managing category-level risk.
• Responsible for managing a portfolio of suppliers to ensure contracted expectations continue to be improved throughout the contract life cycle and to support these suppliers in delivering added value to Thames Water.
• Lead and evaluate competitive tenders and proposals for the supply of goods and services.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting on projects using available reporting tools.

What you should bring to the role:

• Experience in end-to-end strategic category management.
• Ability to influence, engage and inspire internal and external stakeholders to drive meaningful change.
• Ability to challenge industry norms and proactively seek out opportunities to deliver sustained improvements in performance.
• Capable of leading complex supplier negotiations up to £100m in value.
• Some understanding and experience of operating in complex supply chain environments.
• Skilled in prioritisation and managing risk and complexity effectively.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary from £45,000 - £58,000 per annum depending on experience.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (Plus bank holidays).
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% - 2x employee contribution.
• Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of your and your family’s health and well-being, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is a great, diverse and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process. We aim to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support you.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.